Congleton Town Centre will once again come alive with flavour and festivity as the annual Congleton Food & Drink Festival returns on Sunday 8 June. Running from 10.30am-4.30pm, the event is free to attend and promises a full day of culinary celebration, live entertainment, and activities for all ages.
Over 70 stalls will fill the streets across High Street, Swan Bank, Mill Street, and the pedestrianised area, offering visitors the chance to sample and purchase a wide range of high-quality food and drink. From handmade pies, preserves, cheeses, and chocolates to international street food, craft ales, artisan spirits, and sweet treats, the festival is set to delight food lovers of every kind. The Congleton Market Quarter, in partnership with Independent Street, will feature an expanded range of artisan food and drink stalls and live entertainment.
Congleton Town Mayor, Councillor Robert Brittain, welcomed the return of the event, now under new ownership and organised by Congleton Town Council, saying: “The Food & Drink Festival is a fantastic celebration of Congleton’s community spirit and thriving independent food scene. It’s one of the highlights of our town calendar, attracting thousands of visitors and offering a wonderful platform for local and regional producers. I encourage everyone to come along and experience everything this vibrant event has to offer.”
New for 2025, a hands-on focaccia bread making workshop will take place inside Congleton Town Hall, hosted by expert bakers from The Speckled Hen Bakery. Tickets for the workshop are priced at £5 and available to purchase online via www.ticketsource.co.uk/congleton-town-council. This experience offers attendees the opportunity to learn traditional baking techniques and create their own artisan loaf.
Live entertainment and street performances will feature throughout the day, including walkabout characters, stilt walkers, face painting, circus skills, and a lineup of live bands and DJs. Activities are planned to appeal to visitors of all ages and provide a festive atmosphere throughout the town.
The festival has been designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind. A quiet zone will be available in The Space, supported by TMC, and accessible toilet facilities will be located inside the Town Hall. Additional portable toilets will be placed on Market Street and on-site first aid provision will be available all day. There will also be 10 pre-bookable Blue Badge spaces at the bottom of Mill Street, adjacent to Ableworld – booking is essential via the Information Centre.
To accommodate the festival, a number of road closures will be in place from 6am-6pm. These include High Street, Moody Street, top of Market Street into High Street, Mill Street and Swan Bank. Temporary changes to traffic flow will also be in effect at the bottom of Canal Street (right turn only into High Street) and from Kinsey Street (left turn only into Lawton Street).
Visitors are encouraged to download the event guide (below) or collect a printed copy in advance from Congleton Information Centre.
Congleton Town Council would like to thank this year’s festival sponsors: Beartown Brewery, Bridestone Shopping Centre, Congleton Market Quarter, Howden’s, and Independent Street. Their support helps to ensure the continued success of this much-loved community event.
For more information and event updates, please visit: www.foodanddrinkfestival.net. Or contact Congleton Information Centre on: 01260 270350 ext 1 or email: info@congleton-tc.gov.uk
